Compact Cereal and Milk Container

ABSTRACT

The invention discloses a transportable container for transportable storage of at least two components, for example, dry and liquid components. The transportable container allows the dry and liquid components to be stored together without contact until the user wishes to mix the components. The transportable container is composed of two or more compartments side by side of a material such as plastic. The compartments are separated by at least one dividing wall. A material such as a thin sheet of plastic and/or foil adhered to the flange edge of the compartments and top surface of the dividing wall seals the top of the transportable container. Removing the seal can readily open the transportable container. The seal may be pulled back to reveal at least part of the dry component and/or the liquid component. This would allow the compartments to be readily mixed. Alternatively, at least one dividing wall can have a dividing wall seal between the compartments to allow the components to mix once the dividing wall seal is broken. The liquid component could be poured into the dry component or vice versa. One or more utensils can be molded into the transportable container, on the boarder between the dividing walls for example, or alternatively enclosed in the packaging.

The invention is intended to allow easy, fast access to a meal composedof liquid and dry components such as cereal and milk. The transportablecontainer comprising readily mixable liquid and dry component isconvenient for those away from the kitchen such as travelers, commuters,children, and people with little time for food preparation. Theinvention can be used to mix any two or more components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dry cereal and milk are often combined to make a typical breakfast mealin a kitchen and eaten at a table with a bowl and a spoon. This easy toprepare meal becomes impractical for on-the-go consumers. It isdifficult to carry a container of milk, a container of cereal, acontainer to mix the two, and a spoon. This invention allows easy,compact transportation of cereal and milk or other complementarysubstances such as granola and yogurt. This invention allows theconsumer to transport dry cereal and liquid milk, or other materials,separately but within one transportable container for easy combinationon the go, away from the kitchen. Separation of the dry and liquidmaterials prevents decomposition, sogginess, and rotting.

DESCRIPTION DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transportable container comprising tworemovable seals.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a transportable container comprising asingle removable seal.

FIG. 3 a is a perspective view of a transportable container comprising asingle removable seal and at least one pinch seal.

FIG. 3 b is an enlarged cross sectional view of a pinch seal in theclosed position.

FIG. 3 c is an enlarged cross sectional view of a pinch seal in the openposition.

FIG. 4 a is a perspective view of a transportable container comprising asingle removable seal and two pinch seals on either end of the boarder.

FIG. 4 b is an enlarged perspective view of a pinch seal.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a transportable container with the sealremoved to show a single breakable wall separating the compartments.

FIG. 6 a is a perspective view of a portable container comprising theliquid container folded on top of the solid container and at least onefolded pinch seal.

FIG. 6 b is a cross sectional view of a folded pinch seal in the closedposition.

FIG. 6 c is a cross sectional view of a folded pinch seal in the openposition.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a transportable container without aremovable seal to show a utensil molded into the boarder.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a transportable container comprising asolid compartment seal extending at least slightly past the spout-likecurve.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a transportable container comprising acenter seal.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

-   -   1. transportable container    -   1 a. liquid compartment    -   1 b. solid compartment    -   2 a. liquid compartment wall    -   2 b. solid compartment wall    -   3. boarder    -   4. spout-like curve    -   5. crease    -   6 a. liquid compartment seal    -   6 b. liquid compartment tab    -   6 c. solid compartment seal    -   6 d. solid compartment tab    -   7. utensil    -   7 a. plastic package    -   8. single seal    -   9 a. pinch seal    -   9 b. pinch seal center    -   9 c. inner pinch seal wall    -   9 d. outer pinch seal wall    -   9 e. pinch seal crease    -   9 f. pinch seal flange    -   9 g. flange edge    -   9 h. second pinch seal    -   10. conduit    -   11. single wall    -   12. scores    -   13. folded crease    -   14 a. folded pinch seal    -   14 b. folded pinch seal center    -   14 c. wet pinch seal wall    -   14 d. dry pinch seal wall    -   15. center seal

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a transportable container includes two or morecompartments meant to store two or more complementary substances, whichmay include a wet substance or liquid and a dry substance or solid, suchas cereal and milk. The juxtaposed compartments provide a method foreasy mixing.

In one embodiment, the transportable container 1 in FIG. 1 has a liquidcompartment 1 a and a solid compartment 1 b adjacent to each other. Theliquid compartment wall 2 a adjacent to the solid compartment wall 2 bare connected by a boarder 3, which has a spout-like curve 4 on thecenter top end of the liquid compartment wall pointing toward the solidcompartment to allow spill free way of pouring the liquid into the solidcompartment by bending the liquid compartment upward along the crease 5.The transportable container further comprises a flange edge 9 gsurrounding the transportable container. The liquid compartment iscovered by a liquid compartment seal 6 a made from a material such asthin plastic and/or foil adhered to the boarder and the flange edgearound the liquid compartment, and further comprising a liquidcompartment tab 6 b. The solid compartment is covered by a separate butsimilar solid compartment seal 6 c adhered to the boarder and the flangeedge of the solid compartment, and further comprising a solidcompartment tab 6 d. Under the solid compartment seal, a utensil 7 suchas a spoon is stored preferably in a plastic package 7 a. To mix thesubstances, the solid compartment seal covering the solid compartment isat least partially pulled back, exposing an opening adjacent to thespout-like curve and turning the solid compartment into the bowl. Theliquid compartment seal over the liquid compartment is then drawn backat least slightly to expose the opening of the spout-like curve. Whilemaintaining the solid compartment in a horizontal position, the liquidcompartment is then bent upward along the crease to allow the liquid topour through the spout-like curve into the solid compartment. The solidcompartment seal can now be pulled back further or removed completely.The utensil 7 stored under the solid compartment seal can now be removedfor use. The mixture is now readily consumable. This method provides andconvenient, simple, no-mess way to eat complementary, mixed foods on thego.

In second embodiment, a single seal 8 in FIG. 2 covers both the solidcompartment and the liquid compartment. The single seal is partiallyremoved starting from the far end of the solid compartment and reachingto the liquid compartment to expose the opening of the spout-like curve4 of the liquid compartment sufficient to allow flow of the liquid intothe solid compartment. The liquid compartment is then bent upward alongthe crease 5 to allow the flow of the liquid into the solid compartment.If desired, the single seal can now be pulled back further or removedcompletely. The utensil 7 stored under the solid compartment seal cannow be removed for use. The mixture is now ready to eat.

In a third embodiment FIG. 3 a, the border 3 between the compartmentscomprises at least one pinch seal 9 a to allow a conduit for the flow ofliquid into the solid compartment. The single seal 8 covers both thecompartments and the pinch seal. The pinch seal center 9 b in FIG. 3 b,where the inner pinch seal wall 9 c and the outer pinch seal wall 9 dmeet, is concave about one-third the distance toward the pinch sealcrease 9 e. The single seal 8 reaches down to the end of the pinch sealcenter to seal the compartments. To allow the flow of liquid into thesolid compartment, the pinch seal is broken by pulling downward andoutward on the pinch seal flange 9 f in FIG. 3 c. This action forces theinner pinch seal wall and the outer pinch seal wall to laterally pullaway from each other, and further forces the single seal to verticallypull upward away from the pinch seal center 9 b, Thus a conduit 10 inFIG. 3 c is opened between the liquid compartment and the solidcompartment to allow the liquid to flow into the solid compartment.

In a fourth embodiment FIG. 4 a, there are two pinch seals, one oneither end of the border 3. Pinch seal 9 a will allow liquid to flowinto the solid compartment, while a second pinch seal 9 h will allow airto be drawn back into the liquid compartment. A perspective view of oneembodiment of a pinch seal is shown in FIG. 4 b.

In a fifth embodiment FIG. 5, there is a single wall 11 separating theadjacent compartments, whereby the single wall is configured so that aforce to the single wall will at least partially break it to allowliquid to flow into the solid compartment. For example, a single wallcomprising scores 12 is configured so that a downward force to thevertical axis of the single wall will break the single wall at thescores allowing the liquid flow in the solid compartment. Alternatively,the scores can be configured to break when a twisting and/or bendingforce is applied to the single wall.

In a sixth embodiment FIGS. 6 a and 6 b, the solid compartment and theliquid compartment are folded onto each other to come into contact atthe single seal 8 in FIG. 6 a forming a folded crease 13. At the centerof the folded crease between the flange edge 9 g and/or on either side,and extending almost to the flange edge on either side, there is atleast one folded pinch seal 14 a in FIG. 6 b., which seals the solidcompartment and the liquid compartment. The folded pinch seal does notextent to the flange edge. In the folded pinch seal center 14 b in FIG.6 b, where the wet pinch seal wall 14 c and the dry pinch seal wall 14 dmeet to form a tight seal, the single seal 8 reaches about one-third thedistance toward the folded crease 13, and is sealed against the wetpinch seal wall and the dry pinch seal wall to seal the compartments.The single seal 8 at the at the flange edges on either side of thefolded pinch seal reaches all the way to the folded crease 13 to form atight seal. When the compartments are unfolded at the folded crease FIG.6 c, the single seal 8 pulls away from the wet pinch seal wall and thedry pinch seal wall to open a conduit 10 between the compartmentsthereby allowing liquid to flow from the wet compartment into the drycompartment. The single seal does not pull away from the flange edge,and maintains a tight seal at the flange edges on either side of thefolded pinch seal to prevent spillage. Once the dry and liquidcomponents are mixed, the single seal is at least partially removed toexpose the mixture. In a milk and cereal embodiment, the mixture is nowready to eat.

In a seventh embodiment, a utensil 7 in FIG. 7 in molded into theboarder 3. The utensil is designed to easily break free from the boarderfor convenient use. Alternatively, after the contents of the liquidcompartment is poured into the solid compartment, the liquid compartmentis broken away form the solid compartment at the crease 5 The utensil isthen easily broken free from the boarder for convenient use.

In an eighth embodiment, the solid compartment seal 6 c in FIG. 8extends toward the liquid compartment sufficiently past at least part ofthe spout-like curve 4 to allow the contents of the liquid compartmentto be poured into the solid compartment without having to remove theliquid compartment seal 6 a, when the solid compartment seal is at leastpartially removed at the boarder to allow spill free pouring.

In a ninth embodiment, there is a center seal 15 in FIG. 9 over theboarder extending toward the liquid compartment sufficiently past atleast part of the spout-like curve 4 to allow the contents of the liquidcompartment to be poured into the solid compartment without having toremove the liquid compartment seal 6 a, and further extendingsufficiently over the solid compartment to allow the contents of theliquid compartment to be poured into the solid compartment withoutspilling, and without having to remove the solid compartment seal. Thecenter seal is at least partially removed to allow spill free pouring.The solid compartment seal is at least partially removed after pouringto allow access to the solid compartment.

In a tenth embodiment, there are two or more liquid compartments and/ortwo or more solid compartments, whereby the two or more liquids aremixable, the two or more solids are mixable, or the two or more liquidsand the two or more solids are all mixable in any combinations, such asmilk, honey, chocolate syrup, cereal, sugar, cocoa and dried fruit.Other combinations could be liquid plastic or liquid silicone andactivator, when mixed becomes solid.

The invention is designed to be used by busy, on the go consumers withlittle time to prepare food and eat at home. The curved side of theliquid container allows an easy spill free way to mix the twosubstances. This makes it easy for young children to prepare their ownmeal. The invention is not limited to just milk and cereal, but can beused for any two or more substances, such as water and soup mix, or anysubstance A and any substance B. The two or more substances do not haveto be consumable, but may need to be mixed for other reasons. Forexample, water and plaster.

1. A transportable container, which allows the storage of at least twocomponents comprising: said transportable container comprising at leasttwo compartments; said at least two compartments separated by at leastone dividing wall; said transportable container covered by at least oneremovable seal; whereby said at least two compartments are selected fromthe group consisting of a liquid compartment and a solid compartment,any combination of at least one liquid compartment and/or at least onesolid compartment, and said at least two compartments; whereby said atleast one dividing wall is selected from the group consisting of aliquid compartment wall, a solid compartment wall, single wall, and saidat least one dividing wall; whereby said at least one removable seal isselected from the group consisting of a liquid compartment seal, a solidcompartment seal, a single seal, center seal, and said at least oneremovable seal; whereby said at least two components are mixable. 2.Said transportable container according to claim 1 whereby said at leastone dividing wall comprises at least one dividing wall seal to allow thecomponents to mix once said dividing wall seal is broken, whereby saidat least one dividing wall seal is selected from the group consisting ofat least one removable seal, a pinch seal, a folded pinch seal, and saidat least one dividing wall seal.
 3. Said transportable containeraccording to claim 2 whereby said at least two components are mixable byat least partially removing said at least one dividing wall seal. 4.Said transportable container according to claim 2 comprising at leastone removable utensil selected form the group consisting of said atleast one removable utensil molded into said transportable container,said at least one removable utensil stored in said transportablecontainer, said at least one removable utensil stored under said atleast one removable seal, said at least one removable utensil stored ina plastic package under at said least one removable seal, and said atleast one removable utensil stored in a plastic package in saidtransportable container.
 5. Said transportable container according toclaim 2 whereby said at least two compartments are further separated bya boarder between said at least two compartments, whereby said boarderjoins two of said at least one dividing wall.
 6. Said transportablecontainer according to claim 5, whereby said boarder comprises aspout-like curve for easy pouring.
 7. Said transportable containeraccording to claim 5 comprising at least one removable utensil moldedinto said boarder.
 8. Said transportable container according to claim 2whereby one of said at least two compartments is configured to bend upto allow its contents to be poured into at least one other of said atleast two compartments.
 9. Said transportable container according toclaim 2, whereby said at least one removable seal comprises at least onetab.
 10. Said transportable container according to claim 2 whereby saidat least two components are selected from the group consisting of milkand cereal; yogurt and cereal; plaster and water; at least one wetcomponent and at least one dry component; component A and component B;milk, honey, chocolate syrup, cereal, sugar, cocoa and dried fruit;liquid plastic silicone and activator; and liquid silicone andactivator.
 11. Said transportable container according to claim 2comprising means for mixing said at least two components selected formthe group consisting: breaking the dividing wall seal; at leastpartially removing said at least one dividing wall seal; at leastpartially removing said at least one removable seal; at least partiallyremoving said at least one removable seal and bending up one of said atleast two compartments to pour its contents into at least one other ofsaid at least two compartments; said at least one dividing wallcomprising at least one pinch seal to allow the components to mix bybreaking said at least one pinch seal; said at least one dividing wallcomprising at least one folded pinch seal to allow the components to mixby breaking said at least one folded pinch seal; and mixing said atleast two components.